A gigantic nation located in the Western part of Africa sits on a keg of gun powder.The nation Nigeria has its structure erected on a quicksand; disaster peeps through the window of the nation like the rude Sun radiating its light through the opening of a window.I am not a pessimist; I am just being factual and realistic. The political status of Nigeria is the unjust force that has imposed the sitting of the nation on an explosive keg.Analysis will be done to unravel the mysterious factors that have placed the nation in a state of terrorism, poverty and corruption.
In the year 1960 when Nigeria gained independence, hope swam in the water of abundance, freedom kicked captivity's manhood and ridiculed its weak strength.There was freedom to govern ourselves the way we wanted; but not anyhow, we forgot that at the onset. Political freedom granted us by the Colonialist has degenerated into political captivity. In the year 1966, the first coup d' etat was born as a baby to parents I will term corruption,greediness and foolishness.
The nation has been governed by different leaders who are all suffering from malnutrition or unbalanced diet.They may have all other nutrients in their mind system, but they are all deficient in selflessness.The present frustrating state of this nation can be linked to the bad past that had selfish leaders at the helm of political affairs.When the foundation is destroyed, what can the "clueless" righteous do? All blames will not be attributed to the past governments alone, the present government has also failed in its quest for rectification, rejuvenation, solution and transformation.
The once peaceful nation is now a screen where the world views violence as a movie.Terrorism is a fruit we have reaped from the tree of selfishness, religious intolerance,bad governance and corruption. The Islamist sect, Boko Haram, is an offspring of political failure not religious extremism as widely believed or publicized. This devilish baby, Boko Haram was conceived right from 1960 without anyone being aware. The founding fathers of democracy lacked selflessness, all aimed to rule by all means, they were like Maradona,foul play was pleasant to them as long as it produced result.These selfish acts stepped on the toes of peace,right from that moment, ethnic chauvinism was born and this led to the civil war in 1967, we thought that ended in 1970, but we were wrong. We only cut off the branches, the stump still lives and the branches have regrown with thorns that are piercing and choking the throat of the nation. Tribalism and religious extremism both have their roots in the political disaster we have nurtured with the water of selfishness.You might want to ridicule me as a novice who knows nothing about Nigerian politics and has presented a moral topic before you that has no significance:but you are wrong, below are cogent points that back me up.
Selfless leaders would not compromise the peace of the nation for their political ambitions.
A selfless leader would lose his sleep at night strategizing on security, knowing demonic creatures could possibly be aiming at bombing a school.
A selfless government will not allocate outrageous resources to itself knowing majority of the governed live in poverty.
A selfless leader will be gutsy enough to confront the cabals rather than intimidate and punish the masses by increasing fuel price.
Selfless government will destroy tribalism, nepotism, despotism and favouritism in the selection of people to governmental positions; meritability will be the watchword.
Selfless judiciary will put on a robe of justness and avoid prejudice and corruption in the delivery of justice.
Sectional leaders that are selfless will lose happiness and do anything to stop the violence emanating from religious extremism rather than become opportunists who aim at using anarchy to usurp power.
I will continue analyzing different occurrences of selfishness in this nation without an end if I aim at doing so.Our leaders must excrete selfishness for change to occur.Our leaders must drink the urine of selflessness if this nation will ever survive.I intentionally used ' urine' in this context; it signifies the odds and unpleasantness associated with being good or doing the right thing. Until our readers are ready to sacrifice their convenience and well-being for the nation; things will grow from worse to worst.
Politics feeds on a food I call wisdom. Stupidity is not a curse, it is the possession of a mentally retarded fellow. Foolishness is not an abuse; it is the manifestation of an undeveloped mind. What happens when our leaders lack wisdom? The followers suffer and the nation heads towards doom. As a writer of subtle approach, I will not term our leaders foolish nor stupid, but their ways are, their words are, their actions and inactions are. Imagine a leader of a nation who was being attacked by his followers due to insecurity, and all he had to say to defend himself was that, he was not a tyrant or a dictator. The truth is, you do not need to be autocratic before you enforce a change, all you need is wisdom married to timely action.
The obnoxious policies that have emanated from the present government are quite unpleasant and ludicrous. If security can take a huge chunk out of revenue allocation, but insecurity still mocks the nation the way butter does to a bread, then I am sorry for my fatherland.
It is unwise and stupid of the legislature to have ever had the time to debate on abortion and prostitution when basic challenges such as poor education and unemployment are laughing the nation to scorn.
It is unjustly stupid for the judiciary to have freed corrupt political leaders even when there was enough evidence to nail them to the cross.
I see nothing wise in a leader attempting to name an educational institution after a great icon of democracy when he hasn't fully delivered the dividends of democracy.
The government has failed likewise the citizens.A balanced view is what makes a writer just.Truth is bitter but sweet.As citizens, we have the power to vote in and vote out; but it saddens me to realise we often trade this single power or right for short term benefits. We sell our votes to them forgetting they have whips in hand to beat us for our misdeeds when they come to power.
Your vote should not be sold, it should be earned justly. Maybe we deserve the kind of government we have, but am forced to say 'nay'. Crafty politicians trick gullible citizens, so terrible! Yet again, I am forced to say 'yes' ; from among the people comes the leaders.
Before the completion of this satire, I have to add this hilarious piece: Sanni Abacha's blood system was extremely infected with selfishness to the extent that he attempted to eat an apple and a lady at the same time; that choked his throat and led to his demise. "Olojukokoro" I will call him in yoruba, "Oliver Twist" in English. He fell at the feet of his enemies when his body system crashed due to the presence of rampant virus (selfishness) ...I cannot vouch for the authenticity of this since we were all made to believe he died from an heart attack, heart attack my foot!
When our leaders start acquiring knowledge, they will begin to make effective decisions; when they embrace selflessness, terrorism and corruption will let go.
When the citizens become wise- they will put on the gown of patriotism, shun bribery, corruption and violence, vote based on meritability, avoid tribalism and be positive. SELL NO VOTE OF YOURS, LET IT BE EARNED JUSTLY; FOR YOUR VOTE IS NOT ATTACHED TO YOU ALONE, YOUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE IS IN IT, THE NATION'S FUTURE IS IN IT.
It is time for the nation to rise up from the seat, that seat of gun powder. Explosion may occur soon, and no one may have the opportunity to put on a fedora hat; not even the president and no time for a sheepish smile.
The right action by the leaders and citizens is what we need, we can spell transformation agenda since it has been echoed to our ears countless times, but we need to experience it. Now is the time!
Written by : Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom
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